Monday, December 20, 2010

Bread and Jam for Frances

It was almost 2:30pm. I was hungry. Really hungry. Like. Really, really hungry.

And being hungry, it meant I was cranky. I had wanted to go to a Japanese restaurant for lunch, but they all kind of close at 2:30pm. Boo. On an off note, I always seem to have Japanese lunch cravings on Sunday afternoons, but none are ever open! What is this?!

Ahem.

Fortunately I had recently read Food Rehab's review of Bread and Jam for Frances (which I keep accidentally calling Bread for Frances...just trying to simplify it...), which is just a short 5 minute drive away from me, which my stomach well agreed with.

Bread and Jam for Frances is tucked away quietly behind the Readings store on Glenferrie Road (I adore bookstores), so it's not too noticeable unless you're going hunting for it. It's a nice little alcove away from the hustle and bustle that happens on Glenferrie Street. Even on a cool and slightly overcast day, the space is airy with high ceilings, white walls and simple woodern furniture. It felt bright, it felt inviting and it was quite relaxing. My initial crankiness faded into obscurity fairly promptly.

The cafe is named after a book, about a food obsessed badger (Frances) who loved bread and jam so much, that's all he wanted to eat!

Fortunately for us, there was more than that on the menu!

Lovely coffee and a delicious chai latte were quickly licked clean. Thanks for the whole bottle of honey! Mmmmm.

I love the little logo, just so charming and adorable! Between Brad and I we got one thing off the lunch menu and one thing off the specials board.

Brad went with the pesto chicken and avocado toastie. Bread and Jam for Frances is also Dench Bakers home away from home, meaning that there is a selection of beautiful artisan bread to buy home, or have in the cafe. The toastie (I would just call it a sandwich, but toastie sounds so much cuter!) was delicious. I couldn't resist a nibble as I adore nice thickly cut bread with lightly crunchy crusts. The chicken was tender, the basil in the pesto nice and strong. Mmmmm. Quite delicious.

I went with the special of pumpkin and haloumi fritters (I think. Oh dear I am terrible.) with tzatziki (I can never say, nor spell that word. Seriously!). I thought it didn't look too big when it first came out, but as always, my eyes forecast incorrectly and my stomach whines and complains about it later. These were so hearty and so tasty, lots of pumpkin, not too doughy as I thought they could potentially be and perfect with the tzatziki. There was something with a bit of bite in there, a pinch of something that warmed the mouth that was cooled with the tzatziki. It was unexpected, but very nice.

After a good feed, Brad and I ended up sitting here for a while afterwards and it was interesting to see the people filter in and out. A few families, mostly older folk and not a student in sight. Before I knew it, we had been at Bread and Jam for Frances for almost 2 hours! Where had the time gone?! Would work notice I had been away for that long?! It's like reading a book, getting caught up in the story and losing all track of time.

I am certainly looking forward to many more lunches here. Maybe with a book next time.